Award availability and status

[mlob]

I am a newbie here so aplogoes if this is a silly question in any way. I am a lowly bronze with QF as normally fly Virgin out of Coolangatta and Ballina. But collectively my husband and I have loads of points due to cards. We are looking to fly our family of four to Europe in J within the next couple of years. Is it worth chasing silver perhaps even gold to open up reward seat availability? Now seems a good time to start if I did.

 

[Limewood]

If you book near year out should have no problems getting J seats and this will give you lounge access.

If you find a classic award online and then phone Qantas and book any seat award ASA in J (JASA) you'll not only get many points back but get status points too as if you had paid cash for tickets.

 

[mlob]

Thanks for the advice!

 

[ashleyn]

I am a newbie here so aplogoes if this is a silly question in any way. I am a lowly bronze with QF as normally fly Virgin out of Coolangatta and Ballina. But collectively my husband and I have loads of points due to cards. We are looking to fly our family of four to Europe in J within the next couple of years. Is it worth chasing silver perhaps even gold to open up reward seat availability? Now seems a good time to start if I did.

Flexibility is key as well. And not all awards open up 350 days out, often around 9 months there seems to be more choice.

 

[mlob]

Having had a bit of a look around with it I notice the same thing Ashleyn. We will be flexible as planning a six month sojourn!

 

[Mwenenzi]

Getting 4 J awards on 1 flight will be hard to impossible. I expect you will have to split travellers to 2+2, 1+1+2 or 3+1 on diffferent flights and/or days. Also look a 2 awards Aust-DXB/HKG/SIN and DXB/HKG/SIN-Europe

 

[Limewood]

The sire Expert Flyer is great for finding out what award seats are available and dates on many airlines, can set up to advise you the instant they are there too.

 

[mlob]

I've played around and it looks possible to get us there all together. Not always on my flight of choice though. That's what got me thinking maybe I should up my status. Definately looking at your recommended routing Mwenenzi as Dubai is perfect for us as wanting to end up in Athens. Happy to break the trip up too via Asia at least in one direction.
Thanks for all the advice. This site is such a wonderful resource.

 

[Limewood]

Mrs Lime and self going to Europe next year, doing Y+ on sale to HKG (stopover both ways) then very reasonable J points from there to Dubai, then Venice & Vienna. Have one world airline choice to DXB either Cathay, Emirates & Qatar.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I don't think there is all that much extra availability if any for a silver or gold on long haul business class redemptions compared to a bronze. I would not bother upping status for this purpose.